Our Stained Glass Windows

What Do Our Stained Glass Windows Mean?

That is a question I’ve asked myself for many years.

We have some of the most beautiful stained glass windows I’ve seen. No wonder…I church was built by a very generous man John E Alden. In today’s standards our church as built would cost a fortune! That’s why you see today’s churches built with a lot less detail, and in most cases with none or very little stained glass windows. Both of which cost money, and a lot of it. No, you don’t need detail and stained glass windows to worship the Lord…people used to meet on street corners to worship. As I have sat in our chapel for years, as a child, and as an adult, I always wondered what the stained glass windows meant. They all have a story.

It was not until I found the copy of “Down By The River-Side” a history of our church written by some of the past members, did I finally find the true meaning of the design of our windows.

Rose Window

Over the main front door is a beautifully colored stained glass Rose window which indicated the symbols of the four Evangelists, with the Lamb of God in the center and surrounded by a foliated design suggesting the Vine. These windows were designed and made by Charles J Connick of Boston.

The Six Side Window Captions

The six side windows represent the six days of creation, with the center angel in each one holding symbols for each of the day of the week. In each symbol occurs a figure of the Creator in ruby robes and each angel is support by an arc of different colors suggesting the rainbow. An appropriate Bible verse is inscribed under each window. Medallions in the side panels of each group, twelve months in all, represent the labors of the months. These were favorite subjects of Mediaeval Craftsman.

The Chancel Window

Christ is represented as the principal figure, in the center, with the Virgin Mary on the left, and St. John the Evangelist on the right, with their symbols below, the lily, the chalice and the serpent. The Medallion under the Blessed mother represents the Nativity, the center one the Crusifiction, and under St. John the revelation. These three figures unite in indicating the Birth, Sacrifice and Promise of our Lord. Here the Vine is used again as a symbol of the church.